Actor Byun Woo-seok to Support Seoul Independent Film Festival Through Production Project

Actor Byun Woo-seok is stepping up to support independent film production.

The Seoul Independent Film Festival (SIFF) announced that it will be holding a call for entries for its independent film production support project, ‘SIFF X Byun Woo-seok: Shorts on 2025,’ from October 10th to 24th, aiming to foster the passion of talented creators.

Amidst rapid changes in the Korean film industry's creative environment and audience engagement, there's a growing call to explore new futures for Korean cinema. The 51st SIFF saw a record 1,805 submissions, highlighting the vitality of independent films that continue to be produced despite challenging conditions, serving as a crucial driving force for the potential of Korean cinema.

In line with this trend, SIFF is launching a new production support project with the sponsorship of Byun Woo-seok. This initiative, where a widely beloved actor directly engages with independent filmmakers, holds significant meaning in co-building the foundation for future Korean cinema.

Byun Woo-seok has garnered attention for his gentle looks and detailed acting through works like the drama ‘Moonshine,’ ‘Strong Girl Nam-soon,’ and films ‘20th Century Girl,’ and ‘Soulmate.’ His recent drama ‘Lovely Runner’ achieved immense popularity, making a strong impression on fans both domestically and internationally. He was also cast as the protagonist in the Netflix series ‘Solo Leveling,’ showcasing his versatile acting spectrum across different media and genres.

This project sponsorship is expected to be a meaningful move, demonstrating Byun Woo-seok's commitment to supporting the potential of independent film creators alongside his own growth as an actor.

SIFF has consistently supported independent film creation through various programs such as production support, distribution support, and project development since 2009. This new project, building on that experience, is designed to be an effective one-stop program connecting production, screening, and distribution for independent films.

The theme for the call is ‘Love,’ and up to three short fiction films will be selected, with a total production budget of 30 million KRW to be distributed differentially. Byun Woo-seok himself will participate in the final judging, alongside mentorship from Baro Entertainment and experts, and collaboration with a general producer. The completed films will be screened and distributed through SIFF.

The application period for ‘SIFF X Byun Woo-seok: Shorts on 2025’ runs from October 10th to October 24th at 6 PM. Selected works will be announced at the 51st Seoul Independent Film Festival in 2025. Creators with short film directing experience and who can complete a script fitting the theme by August 2026 are eligible to apply. Details can be found on the official SIFF website.

The Seoul Independent Film Festival 2025 is scheduled to be held from November 27th to December 5th.

Byun Woo-seok gained significant attention for his role as Ryu Si-oh in the 2023 drama 'Strong Girl Nam-soon.' His fashion sense and adept fan service during stage greetings also became a hot topic. He continued to connect with fans by holding his first solo fan meeting, 'Summer Serenade,' at the Hwajeong Gymnasium at Korea University on March 9, 2024.